Using Mirrors During Squat Workouts May Hinder Efficiency Of Gym Routine

by Lizette Borreli

When we go to the gym, whether it’s for yoga, Zumba, or weight lifting, we’re surrounded by mirrors, and that’s especially true when we’re doing squats. In weight rooms, the mirrors are perfectly aligned with squat racks to give visual feedback on form and positioning, but do they hurt more than help us during squats?

A recent study presented at the Association of Academic Physiatrists (AAP) Annual Meeting in Sacramento, Calif., found performing squats in front of a mirror has no effect on our ability to distribute weight evenly when we squat. Moreover, mirror use during squats can distort our visual and sensory perception of where our body is and how it feels.